Friday 3rd July 2015

£100K Garage: Caesar Barton

The weird and wonderful for Caesar, with M Coupe, Clio V6, Fiat Coupe and more in his Dream Garage

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Name: Caesar Barton
Previously owned: (chronologically) Citroen AX GT, BMW E30 320i, Peugeot 205 Rallye (white), VW Mk1 Golf Cabriolet, VW Citi Golf CTI, VW Mk1 Golf GTI 1.6, Honda CRX MK2 Twin Cam, Smart Brabus Roadster-Coupe, Peugeot 205 Rallye (yellow)
Currently owned: Porsche 968 Club Sport
On the shortlist: All of the following, along with a Mercedes-Benz E500 (W124) and a Suzuki SC100

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BMW M635 CSi Motorsport Edition
Cost: £24,995
Balance: £75,005
Why I chose it: "Quite simply, elegance personified. Achingly iconic design features such as the Hofmeister kink and shark-nosed prow, alongside the unmistakable silhouette makes the original Six visually catchier than stubble on a silk negligee.

"Autos are more common, and frankly perfectly suited to the M635 CSi, though this stunning example's manual 'box only adds to its appeal for me."

Renault Clio V6 255
Cost: £21,995
Balance: £53,010
Why I chose it: "This is the type of car that some (many?) people won't get - and I love it for that reason even more, while the Black Gold finish sets it apart beautifully from the more familiar shade of metallic blue.

"If this car was a band it would be Killing Joke - eclectic, gloriously entertaining and decidedly unhinged. A Nissan Qashqai, by comparison, would be Coldplay..." (unfortunately the Black V6 was sold so we've had to substitute the, er, more familiar shade of metallic blue - NA).

BMW M Coupe
Cost: £35,995
Balance: £17,015
Why I chose it: "The standard Z3 Roadster's styling is ropier than a lasso exhibition, so whatever dark arts the after-hours 'skunk-works' team channelled, they certainly succeeded in creating a jaw-dropping shooting brake. Captivatingly odd, much like the Clio V6, I personally love the M Coupe's looks, especially from the rear three-quarter - and while Estoril Blue is by far the most common colour choice, it's also the best.

"This was near the top of my own real shortlist, which the 968 CS eventually won.
I stand by my choice but I still covet a straight one of these quite madly..."

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1
Cost: £9,995
Balance: £7,020
Why I chose it: I've owned three Mk1 Golfs - a Clipper Cabriolet, a Citi Golf CTI (a South African five-door GTI), and a black GTI almost identical to this, apart from mine was one of the last 1.6s, whereas this is a 1.8.

The delight of the Mk1 is in its proportions; it's simply exquisite to behold from any angle. The utilitarian origins only add to the charm. The very best Mk1s are fetching strong money - in 18 months this'll look cheap.

Fiat Coupe Turbo
Cost: £3,990
Balance: £3,030
Why I chose it: "Chris Bangle's design has aged quite superbly to these eyes - and along with Broom Yellow, this example's Sprint Blue is the pick of the colours. Tidy examples are scarce and this one looks delectable. Who'd have thought - from Fiat? In the 90s?

"As for the £3,030 balance? I'd have the Fiat professionally undersealed and buy an extra set of rear boots for the Clio V6 - I have a feeling they wouldn't sit around for long..."

[blasos]

Top garage! The M Coupe in Estoril Blue is a real jaw-dropper. The Clio is a humdinger too. Nice!

[anonymous-user]

I'll get in there before anyone else inevitably does... Regarding the M635 CSi, I meant that the E24 6 Series in general is well suited to auto 'boxes - the M came only as a manual.
I did send in a revised copy of my 100k Garage but they've run the original version... Still, nice to see it published either way.

Caesar

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 3rd July 12:11

[neil-935ql]

Nice garage and love the 635 but as a true fast ford fan I would stick in a classic ford some where or maybe a sierra cosworth!

[Blackbird425]

The M6 and the bread van are indeed very special. I'm not sure how you can say the standard Z3's styling is ropey though given that about 85% of it is identical to the M Coupe. To my eyes the Z3 has aged beautifully. As for the lasso competition reference, well that was about as awful as the Clio V6. Seriously, you'd have to wear a bag over your head when driving one of those.

[Quickmoose]

A nice design and engineering based garage....

As for the Golf's perfect proportions, I agree but sadly...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Bencolem]

The price of that ZM Coupe is ridiculous. I thought only S54 engined versions were worth over £25,000.

I sold my X reg S50 with 22,000 for £21,000 6yrs ago!

[Maxus]

Great choices, which going by the prices being asked for the 635, Clio and Z3M many agree with. I know it is mentioned frequently but it can't have been long ago that the Z3M and Clio were both c£10k cars? (maybe not these particular ones but for something decent).

[Roma101]

Blackbird425 said:

As for the lasso competition reference, well that was about as awful as the Clio V6. Seriously, you'd have to wear a bag over your head when driving one of those.

Please could you explain why.

[Leins]

Top garage, only lacking a quick saloon/estate IMO - something the W124 would have sorted. Or perhaps swap the E24 for an E28

[Blackbird425]

OK, I appreciate not everyone will agree on this point. Styling wise it looks the result of a teenage lottery winner's visit to Halfords in his mum's car. I cannot therefore get away from the fact that most people will assume the driver is a weapon. However, my main beef with the motor is that it just wasn't fast enough. Take a shopping super mini, remove rear seats and insert 3.0 V6. Add big shouty bodykit. What is the minimum level of performance you'd expect? 0-60 in 4 seconds? OK anything less than 5 would have done it. But because they added so much weight it took more than 6, which just doesn't cut the mustard. It really is a sheep in wolf's clothing. Add to that a typically cheap and nasty Renault interior. Quite why anyone would pay £22k for one of these is beyond me; is this price being propped up by speculators? I can't see it ever being worth more.

[andyg109]

Interesting garage – loving the M coupe, can't believe how much their values have risen since I last looked.

Also, extra PH points awarded for the mention of Killing Joke – great (underrated) band!

[mnx42]

I think this is my favourite garage so far! Nice one

[Leins]

Blackbird425 said:

OK, I appreciate not everyone will agree on this point. Styling wise it looks the result of a teenage lottery winner's visit to Halfords in his mum's car. I cannot therefore get away from the fact that most people will assume the driver is a weapon. However, my main beef with the motor is that it just wasn't fast enough. Take a shopping super mini, remove rear seats and insert 3.0 V6. Add big shouty bodykit. What is the minimum level of performance you'd expect? 0-60 in 4 seconds? OK anything less than 5 would have done it. But because they added so much weight it took more than 6, which just doesn't cut the mustard. It really is a sheep in wolf's clothing. Add to that a typically cheap and nasty Renault interior. Quite why anyone would pay £22k for one of these is beyond me; is this price being propped up by speculators? I can't see it ever being worth more.

I agree with all your points, really can't fault your arguments there.

But I still really want one

[Fetchez la vache]

Nice selection.
A few years back I was looking for bread vans, and a few years before that, the Clio v6, so the only thing I can say is...
Bloody hell, prices have gone up!

[neil-935ql]

Yes I agree the Clio v6 looks great but needs more performance it's not much quicker than the 2.0 renaultsport Clio !

[Roma101]

Leins said:

Blackbird425 said:

OK, I appreciate not everyone will agree on this point. Styling wise it looks the result of a teenage lottery winner's visit to Halfords in his mum's car. I cannot therefore get away from the fact that most people will assume the driver is a weapon. However, my main beef with the motor is that it just wasn't fast enough. Take a shopping super mini, remove rear seats and insert 3.0 V6. Add big shouty bodykit. What is the minimum level of performance you'd expect? 0-60 in 4 seconds? OK anything less than 5 would have done it. But because they added so much weight it took more than 6, which just doesn't cut the mustard. It really is a sheep in wolf's clothing. Add to that a typically cheap and nasty Renault interior. Quite why anyone would pay £22k for one of these is beyond me; is this price being propped up by speculators? I can't see it ever being worth more.

I agree with all your points, really can't fault your arguments there.

But I still really want one

And that is why I think the good arguments put forward by Blackbird (apart from the interior being nasty) are redundant. It is not perfect by any means. But it is unique and special and bonkers. And that is why, in my experience, a majority of 'car' people like it.

[hookedonboost]

Nice list Sir, very jealous of your 968 CS as well, an itch I need to scratch I just cannot leave this S2000 alone!

[dinkel]

The M6 is a bit pricy. In NL they can be found for less and still in decent nick. Epic car though. Still a looker.

10K 635 CSi is worth a look. I'd spent the spare 30K on a 105 Bertone and an S4 EFI Spider.

[JMF894]

Leins said:

Blackbird425 said:

OK, I appreciate not everyone will agree on this point. Styling wise it looks the result of a teenage lottery winner's visit to Halfords in his mum's car. I cannot therefore get away from the fact that most people will assume the driver is a weapon. However, my main beef with the motor is that it just wasn't fast enough. Take a shopping super mini, remove rear seats and insert 3.0 V6. Add big shouty bodykit. What is the minimum level of performance you'd expect? 0-60 in 4 seconds? OK anything less than 5 would have done it. But because they added so much weight it took more than 6, which just doesn't cut the mustard. It really is a sheep in wolf's clothing. Add to that a typically cheap and nasty Renault interior. Quite why anyone would pay £22k for one of these is beyond me; is this price being propped up by speculators? I can't see it ever being worth more.

I agree with all your points, really can't fault your arguments there.

But I still really want one

Yep this.

No where near quick enough or special enough inside but madder than a box of frogs and I want very badly

Jimbo

[kambites]

Lovely selection.

The 6-series doesn't particularly appeal but everything else is enormously desirable. The Clio, especially, is one of the most fabulous cars of the last 20 years.